Most of the special acupeints are located below the elbows or knees with special names and theory. They are frequently used in clinical treatment with specific methods.

The Eight Convergent Acupoints

Convergent Acupoints

Pertaining Meridian

Extra Vessels

Indications

Neiguan(PC 6)Gongsun(SP 4)

Pericardium M.Spleen M.

Yin link vesselThoroughfare vessel

Heart, chest, stomach

Houxi(SI 3)Shenmai(BL 62)

Small intestine M.Bladder M.

Governor vesselYang heel vessel

Inner canthus, ear,neck,shoulder, back

Waiguan(TE 5)Zulinqi(GB 41)

Triple energizer M.Gallbladder

Yang link vesselBelt vessel

Outer canthus, backear, cheek, neck,shoulder

Lieque(LU 7)Zhaohai(KI 6)

Lung M.Kidney M.

Conception vesselYin heel vessel

Throat, lung, chest,diaphragm

The Five-shu Acupoints on the Yang Meridians

Application of the crossing acupoints The crossing acupoints refer to those located at the intersection of the two or more meridians. There are nearly 100 crossing acupoints and most of them are dis-tributed on the trunk, head and face. Since meridians converge at the crossing acupoints, so the crossing acu-points can be used to treat disorders of the multimeridi-ans. For example, Sanyinjiao (SP 6), a crossing acupoint of the three yin meridians of foot, can be used to treat diseases of the spleen, liver and kidney meridians and dis-eases related to the corresponding zang-fu organs.

Zang Organ

Back-ShuAcupoint

Front-MuAcupoint

Fu Organ

Back-ShuAcupoint

Front-MuAcupoint

Lung

Feishu(BL 3)

Zhongfu(LU 1)

Stomach

Weishu(BL 21)

Zhongwan(CV 12)

Pericardium

Jueyinshu(BL 14)

Tanzhong(CV 17)

Gallbladder

Danshu(BL 19)

Riyue(GB 24)

Heart

Xinshu(BL 15)

Juque(CV 14)

LargeIntestine

Dachangshu(BL 25)

Tianshu(ST 25)

Liver

Ganshu(BL 18)

Qimen(LR 14)

Smallintestine

Xiaochangshu(BL 27)

Guanyuan(CV 4)

Spleen

Pishu(BL 20)

Zhangmen(LR 13)

Bladder

Pangguangshu(BL 28)

Zhongji(CV 3)

Kidney

Shenshu(BL 23)

Jingmen(GB 25)

Tripleenergizer

Sanjiaoshu(BL 22)

Shimen(CV 5)

Application of Yuan-Source acu-points and Luo-Connecting acupoints4.3.3.2.1 The Yuan-Source acupoints are located in the vicinity of the wrists and ankles. Each meridian has one Yuan-Source point. Altogether there are 12 Yuan-Source acupoints which are closely related to the zang-fu organs and are the points where visceral qi is infused via triple energizer. Therefore, the disorder of zang-fu or-gans can be manifested on the Yuan-Source acupoints and can be treated by needling Yuan-Source acupoints. The Yuan-Sonrce acupoints on the yang meridians are located posterior to the Shu-Stream acupoints, but the Yuan-Source acupoints on the yin meridians are just the Shu-Stream acupoints. (see Table 4 - 3)

The Yuan-Source Acupoints and Luo-Connecting Acupoints

Meridian

Yuan

Luo

Meridian

Yuan

Luo

MeridianViscera)

Luo

Hand-Taiyin

Taiyuan(LU 9)

Lieque(LU 7)

HandYangming

Hegu(LI 4)

Pianli(LI 6)

ConceptionVessel

Jiuwei(CV 15)

Hand-jueyin

Daling(PC 7)

Neiguan(PC 6)

Handshaoyang

Yangchi(TE 4)

Waiguan(TE 5)

Governorvessel

Changqiang(GV 1)

Hand-Shaoyin

Shenmen(HT 7)

Tongli(HT 5)

HandTaiyang

Wangu(SI 4)

Zhizheng(SI 7)

Spleen(Major Luo)

Dabao(SP 21)

Foot-Taiyin

Taibai(SP 3)

Gongsun(SP 4)

Footyangming

Chongyang(ST 42)

Fenglong(ST 40)

Foot-jueyin

Taichong(LR 3)

Ligou(LR 5)

Footshaoyang

Qiuxu(GB 40)

Guangming(GB 37)

Foot-shaoyin

Taixi(KI 3)

Dazhong(KI 4)

Foottaiyang

Jinggu(BL 64)

Feiyang(BL 58)

Luo-Connecting acupoints are situated at the places where the twelve regular meridians, the conception and governor vessels are distributed. Each has one Luo-Connecting acupoint and the spleen has another major Luo-Connecting acupoint. So altogether there are 15 Luo-Connecting acupoints. The Luo-Connecting acu-points function to connect the meridians internally and ex-ternally related to each other and are used to treat disor-ders of such pairs of meridians. The Luo-Connecting acu-points on the conception and governor vessels as well as the major Luo-Connecting acupoint of spleen are mainly used to treat diseases of the trunk (see Table 4 - 3).

In clinical treatment, the Yuan-source acupoints and Luo-Connecting acupoints may be used inde-pendently or in combination. The method for the combina-tion of Yuan-source and Luo-Connecting acupoints is to se-lect the corresponding Yuan-source acupoint of the viscus primarily involved and the corresponding Luo-Connecting acupoint of the viscus secondarily involved. Usually this method is to deal with the disorders involving the meridi-ans Liangqiu (ST 34), the Xi-Cleft acupoint of the stomach meridian, is selected to treat acute stomachache.

Application of Back-Shu and Front-Mu acupoints4.3.3.3.1 Back-Shu acupoints are located on the back while Front-Mu acupoints are located on the chest and abdomen. Each zang organ and fu organ has one Back-Shu and one Front-Mu acupoint respectively. These acu-points are the areas where visceral qi infuses. So tender-ness can be found on these areas when pathological chan-ges have taken place in the viscera. Back-Shu and Front-Mu acupoints can be used to treat visceral diseases and Back-Shu acupoints can also be used to treat disorders of tissues and organs pertaining to the corresponding viscer-a. For example, Ganshu (BL 18) may be chosen to treat eye or tendon disorders. (see Table 4 - 4)

The Five-Shu acupoints on the Yin Meridians

Zang Organ

Back-ShuAcupoint

Front-MuAcupoint

Fu Organ

Back-ShuAcupoint

Front-MuAcupoint

Lung

Feishu(BL 3)

Zhongfu(LU 1)

Stomach

Weishu(BL 21)

Zhongwan(CV 12)

Pericardium

Jueyinshu(BL 14)

Tanzhong(CV 17)

Gallbladder

Danshu(BL 19)

Riyue(GB 24)

Heart

Xinshu(BL 15)

Juque(CV 14)

LargeIntestine

Dachangshu(BL 25)

Tianshu(ST 25)

Liver

Ganshu(BL 18)

Qimen(LR 14)

Smallintestine

Xiaochangshu(BL 27)

Guanyuan(CV 4)

Spleen

Pishu(BL 20)

Zhangmen(LR 13)

Bladder

Pangguangshu(BL 28)

Zhongji(CV 3)

Kidney

Shenshu(BL 23)

Jingmen(GB 25)

Tripleenergizer

Sanjiaoshu(BL 22)

Shimen(CV 5)

Meridian

Jing-Well

(Wood)

Ying-Spring(Fire)

Shu-Stream

(Earth)

Jing-River

(Metal)

He-Sea

(Water)

Lung

Hand-taiyin

Shaoshang

(LU 11)

Yuji

(LU 10)

Taiyuan

(LU 9)

Jingqu

(LU 8)

Chize

(LU 5)

Pericardium

Hand-jueyin

Zhongchong

(PC 9)

Laogong

(PC 8)

Daling

(PC 7)

Jianshi

(PC 5)

Quze

(PC 3)

Heart

Hand-jueyin

Shaochong

(HT 9)

Shaofu

(HT 8)

Shenmen

(HT 7)

Lingdao

(HT 4)

Shaohai

(HT 3)

Spleen

foot-taiyin

Yinbai

(SP 1)

Dadu

(SP 2)

Taibai

(SP 3)

Shangqiu

(SP 5)

Yinlingquan

(SP 9)

Liver

foot-jueyin

Dadun

(LR 1)

Xingjian

(LR 2)

Taichong

(LR 3)

Zhongfeng

(LR 4)

Ququan

(LR 8)

Kidney

foot-shaoyin

Yongquan

(KI 1)

Rangu

(KI 2)

Taixi

(KI 3)

Fuliu

(KI 7)

Yingu

(KI 10)

The Back-Shu and Front-Mu Acupoints of the Twelve Zang-fu Organs

The Back-Shu acupoints and the Front-Mu acupoints can be used independently or in combina-tion. When used together, this method is called Shu-Mu compatibility.

Application of the Lower He-Sea acupoints The Lower He-Sea acupoints refer to the six acu-points located on the three yang meridians of foot. The Lower He-Sea acupoints of the three yang meridians of foot are the He-Sea acupoints in the Five-Shu acupoints on the meridians proper. The Lower He-sea acupoints are closely related to the six fu organs and are used to treat the disorders of six fu organs (see Table 4 - 5).

The Lower He-Sea Acupoints

Six Fu-Organs

Lower He-Sea Point

Pertaining Meridian

StomachLarge intestineSmall intestine

Zusanli(ST 36)Shangjuxu(ST 37)Xiajuxu(ST 39)

Stomach meridian offoot-yangming

Gallbladder

Yanglingquan

Gallbladder meridian of foot-shaoyang

BladderTriple energizer

Weizhong(BL 40)Weiyang (BL 39)

Bladder meridian offoot-taiyang

Application of the Eight Confluent acupoints The Eight Confluent acupoints refer to the eight acu-points where the essence of zang, fu, qi, blood, tendon, vessels, bone and marrow accumulates respectively. In clinical treatment, they are selected to treat the disorders related to the essence of the corresponding organs or tis-sues. For example, Geshu (BL 17), the confluent acu-point of the blood, is used to treat the syndrome of blood stagnation. (see Table 4 - 6)

Application of Xi-Cleft acupoints The Xi-Cleft acupoints are those located at the sites where qi and blood in the meridians converges and accu-mulates. There are sixteen such points on the twelve main meridians, yin link and yang link as well as yin heel and yang heel vessels. (see Table 4 - 7)

The Sixteen Xi-Cleft Acupoints

Name of the Meridians

Xi-Cleft Acupoints

Name of the Meridians

Lung meridian of hand-taiyin

Kongzui(LU 6)

Wenliu(LI 7)

Large intestine meridian of hand-yangming

Pericardium meridian of hand-jueyin

Ximen(PC 4)

Huizong(TE 7)

Triple energizer meridian of hand-shaoyang

Heart meridian of hand shaoyin

Yinxi(HT 6)

Yanglao(SI 6)

Small intestine meridian of hand-taiyang

Spleen meridian of foot-taiyin

Diji(SP 8)

Liangqiu (ST 34)

Stomach meridian of foot-yang-ming

Liver meridian of foot-jueyin

Zhongdu(LR 6)

Waiqiu(GB 36)

Gallbladder meridian of foot-shaoyang

Kidney meridian of foot-shaoyin

Shuiquan(KI 5)

Jinmen(BL 63)

Bladder meridian of foot-taiyang

Yin link vessel

Zhubin(KI 9)

Yangjiao(GB 35)

Yang link vessel

Yin heel vessel

Jiaoxin(KI 8)

Fuyang(BL 59)

Yang heel vessel

The Xi-Cleft acupoints are used mainly to treat acute diseases. For example, Liangqiu (ST 34), the Xi-Cleft acupoint of the stomach meridian, is selected to treat acute stomachache.

Application of the eight Convergent acupoints The Eight Convergent acupoints are the eight acu-points usually located around the wrists or ankles through which the twelve regular meridians are connected with the eight extra vessels. These eight Convergent acupoints are divided into four groups and each group is the fixed combi-nation of the two acupoints on the hand and foot (see Ta-ble 4 8).